“And this good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth
for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” — Matthew 24:14.
As we know from God’s Word, Satan has been doing his best for a long time to spread misleading ideas on earth to ensure that humankind’s behaviour, practices, and religious beliefs oppose what God’s Word teaches us.
If we are not careful about what we believe, we are like a wounded deer in the field, and the evil wolf, Satan, is ready to strike us down. Then we might think, “Ahh, no, I don’t necessarily need to be with God,” or “Well, I have my own way of being with God,” or even “Haha, do not make me laugh, I don’t need a God. I can do fine on my own!” These are typical reactions from people after Satan launches his strikes against them.
If we simply follow a person, a Bible study book, or a belief organisation without giving it careful thought, will we still receive the benefits of faith in Jesus’ true teachings? No.
When we attend church each Sunday and pray to the Lord, will we experience the blessings of being at God’s side? No.
When we kneel and pray seven times a day, facing in a particular direction, will we experience the blessings of being at God’s side? No.
If I think, “I have a pink cuddly bear elephant, and if I hug it tightly and make a wish,” will I experience the blessings of being at God’s side? No.
If we sit in meditation and remain silent, will that protect us from Satan’s army and grant us access to the near-future paradise on earth? No.
Because all these beliefs and ideas, all religions or spiritual practices that oppose Jesus’ teachings are part of false religion from Satan, the works of the purple-dressed prostitute, even atheism is! — Revelation Chapter 17.
We must test all religious ideas with the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s Word, to see whether they are truly truthful (Ephesians 6:17). The Beroeans in the Bible were praised because they did exactly this: they examined the Scriptures daily to verify whether what they were taught was true (Acts 17:11). If we simply believe things without checking if they align with God’s Word, that is blind faith. And such blind faith brings no blessings, only danger.
Note: Atheism means ‘without God’. However, any belief system that keeps people from worshipping the Heavenly Father is part of Satan’s work, spreading false teachings and misconceptions to lure people away from God. Consequently, they miss out on the blessings of being at the side of the one True God, our Heavenly Father. Not being at God’s side, especially with the coming Great Tribulation and the Armageddon, is not a good place to be!
“Indeed, just as the body without spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” — James 2:26.
And of course, I, you, and everyone here on earth still have a lot to learn. So, there is no reason to feel bad about still having things to know. As of today, no human being on earth has fully understood (and practised) everything about God’s Word. We all have things to learn and practise. It’s a beautiful process to learn more!
It’s better to have the attitude “Ohh, I still have so much to learn” rather than “I know everything already!” — Luke 9:46-48.
We need to be cautious about the information we take in and the beliefs we hold. The more we practise Jesus’ teachings, the closer we feel to our Heavenly Father. The more we learn and discuss it with others, the more joy we find in life!
And then, increasingly ‘special’ divine things begin to happen. Coincidental things. Very, very coincidental. Nope, there’s nothing coincidental about it! It’s the result of living faith in action — being close to our Heavenly Father and our Heavenly Father being close to us. Our Father in Heaven loves us, but now we truly see how much He cares about us!
We truly receive help from God and His Holy Spirit, and the wonderful feeling it provides. Being guided, being taught what is good for us, being supported during struggles, being kept alive during the Great Tribulation and Armageddon, and ultimately gaining everlasting life in paradise on earth!
Those things are all part of the living faith. And reading God’s Word regularly is also a part of it. God’s written Word is alive, and strength comes from it. It’s not just thinking “I’m with God!” but really noticing God’s presence in your life! God loves you; He loves all of us. And He likes to show it, just as two good friends who enjoy doing kind things for each other.
“while you throw all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you” — 1 Peter 5:7.
“In past generations he permitted all the nations to go on in their ways, although he did not leave himself without witness in that he did good, giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying you with food and filling your hearts with gladness.” — Acts 14:16-17.
Therefore, it is essential to verify facts with God’s Word to ensure we are following the true path—True Christianity, the authentic teachings of Jesus. All the information Jesus shared with us is pretty extensive! We should strive to learn more about it and practise it regularly, step by step, as a way of life. — John 17:3.
“This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.” — John 17:3.
Some of us who have been part of the church or other Christian organisations may already have studied the Bible and practised living as a Christian. Still, it remains essential to keep learning and verifying—checking whether the ideas we believe match God’s Word so we can be confident they are truly authentic. — Ephesians 6:17.
The entire world is affected by the wicked one. Satan has introduced numerous deceptive religions with false ideas into society, making it difficult for people to see the real issues clearly. But thankfully, our Heavenly Father, out of His love for humankind, has made great efforts to provide people with truthful information. Therefore, as we discover more of that Truth, we become better protected against false, religion-based ideas.
“Also, accept the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, that is, God’s word,” — Ephesians 6:17.
“Into your hand I entrust my spirit. You have redeemed me, O Jehovah, the God of truth.” — Psalm 31:5.
“Jehovah was passing before him and declaring: “Jehovah, Jehovah, a God merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and abundant in loyal love and truth,” — Exodus 34:6.
We, Christians, marvel at how amazing and loving our Heavenly Father is. How much He cares for us and all of humanity! We also marvel at the ‘special’ help He sends us. It’s not just written in a book or recorded in a video; it all happens live! While I write this, I am being corrected if the Heavenly Father doesn’t like some part of it, or if “some information needs to be added to it.” It’s happening in real-time, like a live TV broadcast! I have never before experienced God so close, so real-time, so authentic, and almost touchable! But our Heavenly Father loves us. He cares about us, and He wants to be close to us, and for us to be close to Him! He sent His beloved son, Jesus, to earth to teach us how we can be close to God.
Isn’t it beautiful and loving? The Almighty Creator, the Most High, He who is so Holy that we are not allowed even to speak His name, cares for us! He loves us, and He wants to be close to us... He desires to help us out of misery. He wants us to enjoy a very fulfilling life – and He even wishes for us to have everlasting life!
Personally, over the past 14 years*, I have endured numerous hardships caused by Satanists falsely accusing me and causing me trouble in various ways. It wasn’t easy at specific points. But then our Heavenly Father, our God, demonstrated how loving, caring, and protective He is. I have experienced moments when tears of sadness filled my eyes, yet I simultaneously felt profound joy. Soon after, I would smile and offer my gratitude in prayer. This makes religion feel so real and tangible that it almost ceases to be just a religion — it becomes reality, a living faith.
*Note: Those times beginning in 2011.
Occasionally in prayer or simply in my thoughts, I think, “even if I would die tonight and even if I wouldn’t have hope for resurrection... I am still thanking my Heavenly Father that He gave me all those beautiful experiences, Bible study, learning about life, about God, about God’s Word, meeting many beautiful loving people, being so joyful, Holy Spirit, working for God, beautiful ‘coincidental’ events, seeing light in people’s eyes shine when we talk about God… It’s beautiful. I’m really grateful for it. To me, it feels like a great present is given to me, and given to me every day, again and again and again.
The Most High, our Heavenly Father, is with the people, and the people are with Him, bringing all the beautiful things that come from this connection. I hope as many people as possible around the world will also experience the beauty, awe, and love of their Heavenly Father, along with living faith.
“With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them.” — Revelation 21:3.
In Revelation 21:1, God tells us that He has plans to create a new Heaven and a new earth. But what does “a new Heaven and a new earth” mean? Some people believe that Heaven and the planet Earth will somehow be destroyed, and then God will make a new one afterwards. However, God’s Word shows us something different. Let’s explore! — Isaiah 65:17, 66:22, Psalm 37:29, 104:5, 115:16, Ecclesiastes 1:4, 2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21:1.
In God’s Word, “heavens” often symbolise leadership, rulership, or governments. A clear example of this is found in Daniel 4:25-26, where King Nebuchadnezzar received a dream about a great tree being cut down. The prophetic message was that his kingdom would be restored only after he recognised that “heaven rules”. Here, the phrase “heaven” is used to represent God’s supreme rulership and the fact that human authorities hold power only by His permission (Daniel 4:17, Romans 13:1). Furthermore, in prophetic Scripture, the term “heavens” is also used to describe human or spiritual ruling systems that exercise authority over mankind (Isaiah 65:17, 2 Peter 3:13). The Bible shows that all human rulership is temporary until God’s Kingdom, led by the rightful descendant of David, Jesus Christ, takes over all authority. — Luke 1:30-33, Daniel 2:44.
If we examine the example prayer Jesus gave us, he mentioned “Let your will be done” — Matthew 6:9-13.
When God’s will is done, the most beautiful, perfect, joyful situations occur, and God’s promises are fulfilled. However, when Satan’s, the opposing party’s, will is done, a lot of misery and trouble ensue.
The Bible reveals that Satan and his demons had access to Heaven, opposing God’s will. They are certainly known for causing confusion, misery, and rebellion (Job 1:6, Revelation 12:10). Without the active intervention of God’s Kingdom, that spiritual influence remained—the “old state of Heaven,” so to speak. However, God’s Word describes Jesus and his angels waging war against Satan and his demons, expelling them from Heaven! This is God’s Kingdom in action to ensure that His will is done in Heaven. In this way, Christ’s victory prepares the way for “a new Heaven”: a pure, righteous heavenly government. — Revelation 12:7-9, 2 Peter 3:13.
How does this apply to the earth?
Just as Heaven is purified through the action of God’s Kingdom, this same heavenly government under King Jesus will also end Satan’s influence on earth. The removal of the wrongdoers from Heaven serves as the guarantee that God’s will will ultimately be fully accomplished on earth as well. — Matthew 6:10, Revelation 12:12.
Now... What kinds of things remain in place, causing harm, misery, and problems? We know Satan and his demons are still active as troublemakers, but also the institutions they have established on earth, such as the earthly political system, false religion, criminality, adultery, celebrating pagan festivals, and pagan rituals, etc.
As long as those things still exist, we can figuratively speak of “the old system of things” or “the old earth.” Fortunately for us, our Heavenly Father and our God have promised to end this wicked system and bring about paradise on earth, granting humanity eternal life! So, whenever the time is right, God will restore His Kingdom — this time to eliminate all suffering on earth. It will be the end of the “old system of things.” Satan’s will will no longer be done, and only God’s will will be fulfilled! And thus, “a new earth,” namely “paradise,” will be born! — Psalm 37:11, 37:29, 37:34, 115:16.
What about “the sea is no more” mentioned in Revelation 21:1?
The “sea” serves as an illustration of a tumultuous force, much like how Satan and his followers are also an impetuous force that causes great suffering, disasters, and trouble. When Satan and his followers are fully disabled, they will no longer cause problems. The “sea”—the source of misery, disasters, and trouble—will be gone. — Isaiah 57:20, Revelation 13:1, 21:1.
“And this good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” — Matthew 24:14.
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea is no more.” — Revelation 21:1.
“He has established the earth on its foundations; It will not be moved from its place forever and ever.” — Psalm 104:5.
“A generation is going, and a generation is coming,
But the earth remains forever.” — Ecclesiastes 1:4.
“The righteous will possess the earth,
And they will live forever on it.” — Psalm 37:29.
The question “what happens after we die” is one of the most asked in people’s lives. Mainly, when life-threatening health conditions burden someone, or when people are approaching their later years, the question can occupy their thoughts even more.
Many people around the world believe in an afterlife, thinking we will go somewhere after our earthly existence. Perhaps the soul continues, or maybe the spirit does? Could it be that it reaches a blissful dimension or becomes one with the universe? The theory of reincarnation suggests that we might come back as a cat, a dog, or even an elephant. To work out our unfinished lifelesso-- STOP! There are so many theories the world offers! Does any of it lead to anything good? No! The ideas or theories about the afterlife mentioned above are utter nonsense and part of false religion. Let us wield the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17), which is God’s Word, the source of reliable information, and see what God’s Word actually tells us about the afterlife.
What did Jesus tell us about death? When Lazarus, who was a good friend of Jesus, died, Jesus said to his disciples, “Lazarus, our friend, has fallen asleep, but I am traveling there to awaken him.” His disciples thought that Jesus meant ordinary sleep and replied, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will get well.” Then Jesus plainly replied, “Lazarus has died.” (John 11:11). So Jesus likens death to sleep.
Did Lazarus experience anything while he was sleeping in death?
While God’s Word mentions Jesus and eight others being raised from the dead, it makes no mention of them going to a place of torment or experiencing anything during their death. If they had gone to such a place, wouldn’t they have spoken about it? And wouldn’t it be recorded in God’s Word? However, both Jesus and the eight others who were raised from the dead (during Jesus’ time on earth) had nothing to say about it because, in their death, they were unconscious—just like in a state of deep sleep.
So, Jesus clearly equated being dead with being asleep. Other passages in God’s Word also liken death to sleep. — Psalm 13:3, Matthew 9:24, Luke 7:11-15, Acts 7:59-60, 1 Corinthians 15:6, and Ecclesiastes 9:5.
Where do the dead reside? Do they stay in any particular place? Let’s see what God’s Word tells us about it.
Remembrance graves compared to sleeping in death.
When Jesus spoke about the graves of those who have passed away, he sometimes used words for literal graves (Greek: ‘taphos’), as seen in Genesis 23:7-9 and Matthew 23:29, 28:1, Mark 16:3-4, and John 19:41-42, to refer to a physical tomb or grave. However, when Jesus spoke of the dead and graves in relation to resurrection, he did not use the word for literal graves (‘taphos’), but rather ‘mnemeion’, which signifies a grave existing only in memory. The Greek word ‘mnemeion’ is derived from the verb ‘mimneskomai’, meaning “to remember” or “thinking of,” and denotes a tomb or grave in remembrance.
The “remembrance graves” mentioned in God’s Word are the graves where the dead rest, to be remembered by God. And it’s enormous! All the people who have ever lived on earth and hope for an earthly resurrection are in it! God’s Word describes the remembrance graves as “So the Grave has enlarged itself. And has opened its mouth wide without limit” and “The Grave and the place of destruction are never satisfied” — Isaiah 5:14, Proverbs 27:20, 30:15-16.
Therefore, those who have passed away are no longer alive. We can compare it to a candle flame—when you blow it out, where does the flame go? It is gone. However, for the people who have passed away, they remain in God’s memory, and thus they stay in God’s remembrance graves. — John 5:28-29, Matthew 11:23, 16:18, Luke 10:15, 16:23, Job 14:13-15, Acts 2:27, 2:31, Revelation 1:18, 6:8, 20:13-14.
“Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, and those who practised vile things to a resurrection of judgment.” — John 5:28-29.
Sheol, Hades, Hell, and Gehenna.
In Hebrew, those remembrance graves are called “Sheol,” and in Greek, they are called “Hades.” In some Bibles, “Hades” is translated as “Hell.” The words “Sheol” and “Hades” are used interchangeably throughout God’s Word, showing they mean the same thing — referring to the remembrance graves, or in other words, being remembered in God’s memory. They do not refer to any places of torture or punishment!
The Hebrew word Sheol derives from the verb “sha’al,” meaning “to ask, to request.” It signifies its hunger for more people. The Greek word “Hades” means “unseen”; the remembrance graves are not physically visible.
Besides the remembrance graves “Sheol” and “Hades,” God’s Word also mentions another destination of the dead. Jesus issued a few warnings not to do certain acts to avoid ending up in “the fiery place”, Gehenna.
For example, Jesus warned us: “If ever your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better that you enter life maimed than that you should end up with two hands in Gehenna, in the fire that cannot be quenched.” — Matthew 18:8, Mark 9:43.
* Other warnings from God’s Word that are crucial for us, Christians, to be aware of because we do not want to squander the blessings we receive from God include: Matthew 25:31-46, 4:10, 10:28, 23:15, 23:33, Mark 9:42, 12:28-31, James 3:6, Leviticus 17:10-11, Hebrews 10:26-27, Galatians 5:19-21.
But let’s see precisely what Gehenna is.
The Greek word “Gehenna” and the Hebrew word “Geh Hinnom” mean “Valley of Hinnom”. It is a place located in the south-southwest of Jerusalem. Historically, it was a site for Devil worship, even involving child offerings. — 2 Chronicles 28:1-3, 33:1, 33:6, Jeremiah 7:31, 19:2, 19:6.
Later, King Josiah, a righteous king, defiled the site to end the pagan rites in the valley of Hinnom. Afterwards, the valley of Hinnom was used only to dispose of Jerusalem’s waste, and the fire burned continuously. — 2 Kings 23:10.
In human history, when God revealed information to humankind, He did so in a way people could understand. For example, how God’s Kingdom was described in God’s Word (see Chapter 5 - the Kingdom), in all its glory with gemstones and similar features. Gemstones at that time were considered very valuable and a mark of wealth. So, by describing God’s Kingdom with gemstones, the people of that era thought, “Oooh, it’s so beautiful!”
The same applies when Jesus described Gehenna as a fiery place “where the fire cannot be put out” (Mark 9:43). It signifies not everlasting torment or torture, but being cut off from life forever — being eternally destroyed with no hope of resurrection. Just as the waste disposed of in the valley of Hinnom (Gehenna) was thrown into the fire and gone forever, Gehenna is not a place of remembrance or a grave.
After the Armageddon, the final war that will ever happen, on the day of our God Almighty (see Chapter 5 - the Kingdom), the graves of remembrance will be emptied. All those in the remembrance graves will be raised to life again! - both the righteous and the unrighteous! Acts 24:15, Revelation 20:13.
“And the sea gave up the dead in it, and death and the Grave gave up the dead in them, and they were judged individually according to their deeds.” — Revelation 20:13.
“And I have hope toward God, which hope these men also look forward to, that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.” — Acts 24:15.
What about Heaven?
As described in Chapter 5 - the Kingdom, the Bride Class will be resurrected in Heaven. These are the 144,000 chosen ones whom God bought from among humankind at a high price to serve with Jesus as kings in Heaven. — Revelation 5:9-10, 14:3-4.
While they are still alive on earth, they serve as representatives of our King Jesus, leading the Christian faith worldwide. They provide guidance to Jesus’ sheep, offering spiritual sustenance from God’s Word. Because they are brothers of Christ and leaders chosen by God, it is our duty to support them. During Jesus’ presence, Jesus judges humankind, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, based on whether they supported the brothers of Christ or refused to support them. — Matthew 25:31-46.
If they remain faithful, members of the Bride Class will be resurrected in Heaven after they die. When will they be resurrected? At the time of Jesus’ coming, he will collect the remaining members of the Bride Class on earth and bring them to Heaven. — Matthew 24:31, John 14:3. This resurrection of members of the Bride Class is described in God’s Word as “the first resurrection”. — Revelation 20:6. More on this in Chapter 5.8.
Jesus had told his apostles: “If I go my way and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will receive you home to myself, so that where I am you also may be.” — John 14:3.
“Happy and holy is anyone having part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of the Christ, and they will rule as kings with him for the 1,000 years.” — Revelation 20:6.
Some worldly views suggest that our souls are eternal and will continue to exist after we die. This is not true, but it relates somewhat to what God’s Word says about the spirit, which will return to God after death. But what exactly is the spirit? And what does it mean that it will return to God when a human or animal dies? Let’s examine God’s Word to understand what is truly happening.
Let’s first examine the difference between “soul” and “spirit”. In God’s Word, the word “soul,” in Hebrew “nephesh” and in Greek “psykhe,” is used for humans, animals, a person’s life, and blood in humans and animals. — Genesis 1:20-23, 6:17, 7:15, Ecclesiastes 3:19, Matthew 2:20, John 10:11, 10:15, 10:17, 13:37, Luke 12:22-23, 14:26.
Because God’s Word tells us that the soul of a human being and animal is in the blood, we are not permitted to eat meat with the blood still in it or to give or receive blood in medical situations. — Leviticus 17:10-11, Genesis 9:4, Deuteronomy 12:23, Leviticus 17:14.
*Note: There is a possibility of receiving non-full blood, also known as blood fractions.
On the other hand, the word ‘spirit’, in Hebrew “ruach” and in Greek “pneuma”, signifies the life force that God breathed into us to give us life. The spirit, or life force, enables our body and mind to function; we can compare it to a television that requires electricity to operate. — Genesis 2:7, 7:21-23. Afterwards, when the body dies, the spirit —the life force —returns to its owner—to God the Almighty Creator. — Ecclesiastes 12:7.
It also clarifies why, after our body dies, some of our organs and cells continue to function for a few minutes until the spirit is fully returned to its owner, to God.
The spirit, however, is a non-personal force; it cannot think, desire, or disapprove. It can be compared to electricity from a wall socket. Without electricity, the electrical device won’t operate. The same applies to us humans: without the spirit, our body and mind won’t function. — Psalm 104:29, 146:4, Ecclesiastes 8:8.
And the spirit returning to its owner, to God, can be compared with electricity generated from solar panels that is returned to the electricity company.
“Then the dust returns to the earth, just as it was, and the spirit returns to the True God who gave it.” — Ecclesiastes 12:7.
The Holy Spirit, like the spirit, is also a non-personal life force, but as a highly exalted God’s Holy force in action. Just as the spirit is not a person, and it can be compared to electricity emanating from an outlet. However, with highly exalted properties and immense strength, for example, instead of powering a television, it could energise all electrical devices in the entire universe - even creating the universe itself! — Genesis 1:2, Psalm 33:6.
Jesus described the Holy Spirit as a “helper”, a source of “teaching”, “bearing witness”, “giving evidence”, “guiding”, “speaking”, “hearing”, and “receiving”. This indicates that God uses His Holy Spirit to assist us in bearing witness to the Truth, teaching us, guiding us, and enabling us to speak words we might not otherwise say. — John 14:16-17, 14:26, 15:26, 16:7-15, 2 Samuel 23:2, Acts 1:16, 28:25.
Furthermore, God uses His Holy Spirit to fulfil His promises, help people, guide us, strengthen our inner selves, enable us to understand and remember information from God’s Word, and produce holy behaviour in us - namely the fruit of the Spirit. — Galatians 5:22-23, Psalm 143:10, 2 Peter 1:20-21, Luke 1:67, 2:25-35, Zechariah 7:12.
*Note: In the first century, apostles and disciples of Jesus sometimes received special gifts such as healing the sick and speaking in tongues. These were divine gifts to testify to the Truth and preach the good news in different languages, enabling people from other regions to understand it. These gifts occurred only during the first century and are not seen today. If someone claims to have healing powers or to speak in tongues, they are either lying or working with demons.
“On the other hand, the fruitage of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” — Galatians 5:22-23.
The following doctrines or teachings are not true and do not belong to Christianity:
- That we have an immortal soul that continues its journey after death.
- That we reincarnate to learn life lessons or resolve karma.
- That good people go to Heaven, and bad people go to Hell.
- That Hell is an awful place, a place of punishment.
- The Holy Trinity of the Father, the son, and the Holy Spirit.
- Nowadays, people have healing powers of the Spirit or speak in tongues through the Holy Spirit.
Only because of our Heavenly Father’s unimaginable love for humankind, He makes it possible for us to be raised from the dead and live forever, as the bride of Christ in Heaven, and for all the other people in paradise on earth!
“Then I saw, and look! the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who have his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads” — Revelation 14:1.
“The righteous will possess the earth,
And they will live forever on it.” — Psalm 37:29.
The tribulation has ended.
So... The extreme misery, the Great Tribulation, occurred. People worldwide were in despair, shouting, “Please God, help us, help us!” Then God intervened and activated God’s Kingdom to end the misery. The biggest war, and the last war that will ever happen, the Armageddon, took place. — Revelation 16:16.
The political system on earth is destroyed, along with those whom Jesus adversely judged. As a result, they can no longer cause any suffering. Satan and his demons are imprisoned and confined in the abyss for 1,000 years. They remain in a dormant state so that, during this period, they cannot cause any harm. — Revelation 20:1-3, 20:7.
The Millennium has begun. God’s Kingdom has begun its 1,000-year reign to bring paradise on earth and bestow many blessings upon humankind! — Revelation 20:6, Psalm 37:29.
Imagine... God’s people, who survived the Great Tribulation and Armageddon. They are literally standing in paradise! When they look around, they will probably see extensive damage and ruins from the turbulent period that preceded it. Flat buildings and cities are completely devastated, broken bridges, damaged roads, perhaps still fires burning, and smoke rising from the towns. But even so, they are already experiencing the beginning of paradise; everything feels so much better! The new system of things, God’s system of things, has begun!
Satan and his demons are imprisoned in the abyss, so they can no longer cause harm. The sources of trouble on earth are part of the past. Nothing remains to bring misery. It is truly joyful to experience salvation and realise that all suffering belongs to history.
People who were alive under the old system have aged, so at the start of the new system, they still show the same age-related signs. Perhaps they wear glasses, or their bodies appear 80 years old. Maybe they have grey hair. They might be using a walking stick. But something truly remarkable is happening. We were accustomed to the strange idea that as days passed, we were getting older. But that’s no longer the case! — Isaiah 35:5-6.
God’s Kingdom teaches humanity righteousness and supports people in becoming healthy. The effects of sin—such as ageing, poor health, and death—are negated by God’s Kingdom, through our King Jesus. During Jesus’ time on earth, he healed many individuals of their illnesses. Now, our King Jesus is performing these works on a global scale! — Matthew 4:23, Luke 6:19, 8:48, 9:11, 17:19, John 9:1-7.
People will progress toward a state of perfection, health, and youth. At the end of the thousand years, all men and women will have achieved a state of perfectness, perfect health, and perfect youthfulness! — Revelation 21:3-4, Isaiah 33:24.
“At that time, the eyes of the blind will be opened,
And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.
At that time, the lame will leap like the deer,
And the tongue of the speechless will shout for joy.” — Isaiah 35:5-6.
“And no resident will say: “I am sick.”” — Isaiah 33:24.
During Jesus’ time on earth, he already proved that he had power over death by bringing dead people back to life! — Luke 7:11-16, John 11:39-44. Jesus told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who exercises faith in me, even though he dies, will come to life;” — John 11:25.
For centuries, we have been waiting for this glorious moment... And now, the time is finally here!
We look around us... and suddenly, new people appear! *poof* another person is resurrected to life, *poof* yet another is resurrected! All the people who were sleeping in God’s remembrance graves (Sheol, Hell, Hades) are being brought back to life! — John 5:28-29.
Wow!! What an amazing and exciting time!! God’s Word has taught us that it would happen, so we could be assured it would, but now we are actually seeing it happen with our own eyes!!
Some of us have lost loved ones dear to us, perhaps parents who passed away due to old age. Or maybe friends or relatives who died from various reasons, whether because of old age, traffic accidents, or health issues. The painful grief, the mourning we endured... But now... we see them appearing before us!
We hastily run to them, calling out “Dad!! Mum!!” and wrap our arms around them, holding them tightly as if we never want to let go. Tears of happiness stream down our faces; the joyful reunion with our family members is so indescribable! “Thank you, Heavenly Father, thank you, thank you, thank you!” we cry out.
Some of us might have lost brothers or sisters who died young. Or maybe, as parents, we have lost a child—perhaps due to miscarriage or illness. But suddenly, they are brought back to life! They are standing right in front of us!
It’s a joyful occasion, with many tears flowing—many tears. But they’re not tears of sadness or pain; no, they are tears of happiness and joy!
Are those people being brought back to life on earth only the “good” ones who lived in a God-approved way? No! The Almighty Creator, our God, our Heavenly Father, is so loving and caring that He promised both the righteous and the unrighteous a resurrection! This way, both groups get a second chance to experience paradise on earth, learn to live in a proper, righteous way, and have the opportunity for eternal life in paradise! — Acts 24:15, John 17:3.
The remembrance graves are being fully emptied. All the people who were not previously judged unfavourably by Jesus, and who have died, are being resurrected back to life! All of them! Not one is excluded, and none are forgotten!
“Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, and those who practised vile things to a resurrection of judgement.” — John 5:28-29.
“And the sea gave up the dead in it, and death and the Grave gave up the dead in them, and they were judged individually according to their deeds.” — Revelation 20:13.
Now that false religion has vanished and Satan’s system of things has ended, they are no longer causing trouble. The new system of things, God’s system of things, has started. But when we look around, we can still see the damage from past wars, environmental issues, and natural disasters. There is much to clean up and much work to do! God’s Kingdom, God’s government in Heaven, is working hard to solve all these problems.
In the past, when Jesus was on earth, he demonstrated his power over natural elements by commanding the winds and the sea to settle. — Matthew 14:32, Luke 8:22-25, Mark 4:35-41.
And now, as our King, he is demonstrating his power again by resolving environmental problems and natural disasters. The people living on earth today will never have to fear any natural disaster again! Earthquakes, tornadoes, tsunamis, volcanoes, and global warming are things of the past! The barren deserts are now beginning to blossom with vegetation, transformed into habitable places filled with water, fruits, and greenery for drinking and eating! — Isaiah 35:1-2, 35:7.
“The wilderness and the parched land will exult,
And the desert plain will be joyful and blossom as the saffron.
Without fail, it will blossom;
It will rejoice and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
The splendor of Carmel and of Sharon.
They will see the glory of Jehovah, the splendor of our God.” — Isaiah 35:1-2.
People around the world are also working hard to clear away the remnants of war and help make the planet a beautiful place! Joyfully, knowing they are rebuilding paradise, they labour to restore the ruins of the past. Singing songs (psalms) together, praising their Heavenly Father, because they gladly work to make the earth they inherited become a beautiful place! The ‘new earth’ is being born! — Psalm 37:29, 30:12, 147:1, Isaiah 45:18, 2 Chronicles 7:6, Revelation 21:1.
“The righteous will possess the earth,
And they will live forever on it.” — Psalm 37:29.
“Praise Jah! It is good to sing praises to our God; How pleasant and fitting it is to praise him!” — Psalm 147:1.
Not only are people cleaning up the war’s remnants, but they have also begun building beautiful houses for themselves. They have also begun to create gardens and vineyards to grow fruit and vegetables for their own consumption! Back in the days when Jesus was on earth, he fed many people (bread and fish) to demonstrate that God and Jesus can provide whatever they need. — Matthew 14:16-21, 15:32-38.
But now God and Jesus are supplying food for people all around the world!
“God is blessing the people, and there will be an abundance of grain on the earth. On the mountains it will overflow. His Fruit will flourish as in Lebanon”. There is no shortage of food anymore! — Isaiah 65:21-23, Psalm 67:6, 72:16.
“They will build houses and live in them,
And they will plant vineyards and eat their fruitage.
They will not build for someone else to inhabit,
Nor will they plant for others to eat.
For the days of my people will be like the days of a tree,
And the work of their hands my chosen ones will enjoy to the full.” — Isaiah 65:21-22.
Long before Jesus came to earth, it was prophesied that he would be called “the prince of peace”. — Isaiah 9:6. During Jesus’ time on earth, he was teaching humankind righteousness, humility, and living in a way of peace instead of hostility. — Matthew 22:36-40, 5:38-39.
Now that God’s Kingdom is the only government in place, with our Prince of Peace, our King Jesus, at the helm, Jesus is bringing peace on an even larger scale! He is bringing world peace! — Luke 2:13-14, Isaiah 9:6-7, Micah 4:4, Psalm 37:11.
How is Jesus bringing peace to the world? By educating people and teaching them righteousness, justice, and kindness. — Isaiah 48:18. Is Jesus doing this by sending messages from Heaven directly to people on earth? No. So, how does it work then?
Look! There! God’s Holy Spirit appointed faithful men to educate and guide people. They teach the ways of Jesus, which is what God wants them to learn. Look at how the people listen attentively to them and take notes! — Isaiah 32:1-2, Psalm 45:16, Acts 20:28.
“Pay attention to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to shepherd the congregation of God, which he purchased with the blood of his own Son.” — Acts 20:28.
It’s so beautiful! People all over the world are learning about God’s Word. There are no longer issues with incorrect translations or interpretations. Everyone is discovering how to love, be kind, and be righteous. And everyone is so friendly towards each other! So helpful, so caring! I nearly have tears of joy in my eyes; it’s truly remarkable to see! Thank you, Heavenly Father, for making paradise on earth such a lovely place!
Everywhere on earth, God’s will is being realised. People around the world are practising living in ways that bring joy, love, and peace! A way of life as God intended it for us from the beginning. — Matthew 22:37-40, 6:10, John 17:3, 6:45, Isaiah 11:9, 48:17-18, 54:13.
And as a result, people are no longer fighting wars. They have even beaten their swords into ploughshares. Finally, everyone can feel safe! No environmental problems, no natural disasters. No health issues anymore. Satan and demons remain inactive until after the 1,000 years. Weapons and wars are gone. Phew... It’s all so wonderful! God’s Kingdom has brought peace and safety for us all! — Isaiah 2:2-4, 26:9, 32:17, Micah 4:3-4, Psalm 37:11, 46:8-9.
“Whoever does not love has not come to know God, because God is love.” — 1 John 4:8.
“They will not cause any harm
Or any ruin in all my holy mountain,
Because the earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah
As the waters cover the sea.” — Isaiah 11:9.
“He will render judgment among the nations
And set matters straight respecting many people.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
And their spears into pruning shears.
Nation will not lift up sword against nation,
Nor will they learn war anymore.” — Isaiah 2:4.
“They will no longer become something for the nations to prey upon, and the wild beasts of the earth will not devour them, and they will dwell in security, with no one to make them afraid.” — Ezekiel 34:28.
While exploring this lovely place, I noticed a wide variety of animals roaming around and near people. Even some animals I didn’t expect!
Look! A lion lies on the ground very close to the group of people sitting on the grass. They are talking about the teaching they received earlier today. From time to time, the men and women sitting closest to him are petting the lion. Then the lion rolls onto his back with his paws in the air, and he is being petted on his belly. The lion looks like he couldn’t be having a better time; he really seems to enjoy it!
And there, look! Some children are playing with a ball as a few snakes approach them. But they don’t seem scared. They continue playing and are careful not to step on the snakes, as they don’t want to hurt them! After all, the snakes are simply crawling to the manger with food to have some lunch!
And look! A dad who was recently brought back to life is playing with his son and a bear. They are playing tag, and the bear sometimes chases them, and sometimes they chase the bear. After they’ve finished playing, the dad pets the bear on its head and lifts his son onto the bear’s back. The bear then makes contented growling noises.
People can now safely sleep in their houses, huts, or even outdoors in the forest without worrying about any animals! It is all so beautiful, friendly, and kind! It is truly noticeable that what God, our Heavenly Father, promised humanity is coming true! Both people and animals seem to enjoy it! — Isaiah 11:6-9, 65:21, Ezekiel 34:25, Hosea 2:18.
“The wolf will reside for a while with the lamb,
And with the young goat the leopard will lie down,
And the calf and the lion and the fattened animal will all be together;
And a little boy will lead them.
The cow and the bear will feed together,
And their young will lie down together.
The lion will eat straw like the bull.
The nursing child will play over the lair of a cobra,
And a weaned child will put his hand over the den of a poisonous snake.
They will not cause any harm
Or any ruin in all my holy mountain,
Because the earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah
As the waters cover the sea.” — Isaiah 11:6-9.
“In that day I will make a covenant for them with the wild animals of the field,
And with the birds of the heavens and the creeping things of the ground;
I will rid the land of the bow and the sword and war,
And I will make them lie down in security.” — Hosea 2:18.
“And I will make a covenant of peace with them, and I will rid the land of vicious wild beasts, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the forests.” — Ezekiel 34:25.
God’s Word mentions two distinct occasions of judgement. Specifically, during “Jesus’ presence,” which begins with Jesus’ second coming. From that moment until the start of the Armageddon, Jesus judges humankind much like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats - based on whether they supported or did not support the members of the Bride Class. Jesus adversely judges those who didn’t help or those who mistreated members of the Bride Class and will be destroyed during the Armageddon.
Those who support the members of the Bride Class are viewed positively as sheep, counted among Jesus’ sheep, and will be protected by God and His army, even during the Great Tribulation and the final war, Armageddon. They will also enjoy paradise on earth! — Matthew 25:31-46.
Then, after the Armageddon, when the thousand-year judgement day begins, the people on earth in paradise will have a thousand years to attain perfection, including perfect health, behaviour, and loyalty to God. Those who misbehave seriously during these thousand years may be judged and removed from the earth, to prevent them from spoiling it for the others in paradise who wish to live in a joyful, loving, caring, kind, and righteous way. — Isaiah 65:20.
But for the leading group living on earth, the final judgement will happen at the end of the thousand years. — Isaiah 11:3-4.
During these thousand years and at the end of the judgement day, people are not judged for what they did before the thousand years, but for what they did during that time. For example, if someone did something bad under the old system and is living in paradise during these thousand years, they will not be judged for their past sins, but only for the wrongdoings they commit during these thousand years. — Romans 6:7.
“For the one who has died has been acquitted from his sin” — Romans 6:7.
Then, at the end of the thousand years, Satan and his demons will be released from their confinement. They are freed from captivity and begin rebellion, causing havoc once more. God’s Word tells us that Satan and his demons target “the holy city,” which is God’s Kingdom in Heaven. — Revelation 20:7.
But Satan and his demons are not capable of harming God’s Kingdom; that’s why Satan chooses to target the civilians of God’s Kingdom — the people living in paradise on earth under God’s reign. This makes the people on earth the targets of Satan’s last rebellion. — Revelation 20:9.
People who could not learn that the Almighty Creator, the Most High, our Heavenly Father, is the sovereign Ruler, might be joining Satan in his last rebellion and start doing terrible things. Those people will turn evil, and together with Satan and his demons, they will be destroyed with fire coming from Heaven. — Revelation 20:9.
So... Satan and demons and the small number of people that joined their rebellion will be destroyed by fire that comes from Heaven. And for the big group that stayed loyal to the sovereign Ruler, their Heavenly Father, they will be granted eternal life! And this brings the prophecy Jesus told us to fulfilment:
“Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, and those who practised vile things to a resurrection of judgment.” — John 5:28-29.
All the problems throughout history originate from refusing to accept that the Heavenly Father, the Almighty Creator, is the sovereign Ruler. Because Satan challenged this, he became evil. His demons also challenged it; they became evil. Then people on earth challenged it as well, and they became wicked. All historical problems stem from this. Situations like kings who were initially trustworthy and loyal to God but later turned evil also arise from it. Death, diseases, wars, ageing— all the suffering and misery that have ever existed— come from this.
Even now, during this present system of things and also during God’s system of things, including the thousand years in paradise, the best advice to all people is: please learn that your loving and caring Protector and Life Bringer, your God, your Heavenly Father, the Most High, is the sovereign Ruler.
In other words, try practising loyalty to God, your Heavenly Father. Learn to love Him; you don’t want to cause Him sadness, but aim to find joy in bringing Him joy! He is the One teaching us what is good for us. He is the One who, from the beginning, planned that humankind would live in a beautiful, wonderful, joyful paradise on earth. Satan obstructed that plan, but God decided to set things right again so that humankind could once more live in the most fantastic, joyful conditions in the new paradise on earth! Therefore, God has exerted great effort to improve our lives, and we can be grateful to Him for that! — Psalm 83:18, 30:12, 147:1, 1 Corinthians 11:3, Hebrews 13:17, 1 Samuel 12:22, Revelation 4:11.
The ideal joyful, loving, caring, healthy situation — namely, paradise on earth — is only possible because of all the love, planning, effort, and actions our Heavenly Father took to realise paradise on earth for us!
We have every reason to be grateful to Him and to practise loyalty towards our Heavenly Father, not only because He deserves it, but also for all those beautiful things He has done and continues to do for us!
“May people know that you, whose name is Jehovah,
You alone are the Most High over all the earth.” — Psalm 83:18.
Then God’s Kingdom will be handed over to the Heavenly Father, the Almighty God. And Jesus will also submit himself to his Heavenly Father, so that God becomes all things for everyone! — 1 Corinthians 15:24-28.
“Next, the end, when he hands over the Kingdom to his God and Father, when he has brought to nothing all government and all authority and power. For he must rule as king until God has put all enemies under his feet. And the last enemy, death, is to be brought to nothing. For God “subjected all things under his feet.” But when he says that ‘all things have been subjected,’ it is evident that this does not include the One who subjected all things to him. But when all things will have been subjected to him, then the Son himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him, that God may be all things to everyone.” — 1 Corinthians 15:24-28.
“With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” — Revelation 21:3-4.
All promises from the mighty Creator, our Heavenly Father, towards humankind through Jesus Christ and God’s Kingdom have now been fulfilled! Everything is accomplished - enjoy eternal life in paradise!
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Alright, we’re in! We also want to be on God’s side! But how do we move forward from here?
The decision to be with God marks the beginning of a way of life known as Christianity. Christians, followers of Jesus Christ and his teachings, see it as their duty to live in accordance with Jesus’s teachings. It involves practising, gaining new knowledge from God’s Word, and practising again - as a continuous way of life.
Reading a piece of God’s Word daily is a critical practice. It’s an excellent habit to cultivate, and it provides us with our daily bread (nourishing spiritual food) and meaningful information. The more we practise it and discuss it with others, the more “alive” the faith becomes!
It is not always as simple as just reading the Bible and gaining all kinds of interesting knowledge from it. Bible study books, such as “What Does the Bible Really Teach?” can significantly help us gain insights from God’s Word. There are many Bible study books and translations available, but I found those from jw.org to be remarkably accurate.
But always remember: Christians take the responsibility to verify the truthfulness of religious information very seriously! Whether we are from the church, JW, or people who have recently chosen the Christian lifestyle, we do not want to be misled by incorrect information. Therefore, we handle the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s Word, to verify whether the information is accurate or not. — Ephesians 6:17.
The Bible study book What Does the Bible Really Teach? can be downloaded and worked through at your leisure.
You can also request a guided Bible study if desired. Guided Bible study certainly offers its advantages. A few examples include studying with Christians who already have Bible experience, having the opportunity to ask questions, and getting to know friendly people who focus on worshipping our Heavenly Father.
The Greek Bible translation I use is available at Biblehub.com
The online Bible I use is located here:
New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
One of the great benefits of their Bible translations is that the name of God, “Jehovah”, is used. It clearly indicates that our Heavenly Father, the Almighty Creator, God, is meant by it; unlike most Bible translations that hide God’s name and translate it as “the Lord”, etc.
The more insights we gain about our Heavenly Father, His beloved son Jesus Christ, and the Bible, the more our hearts jump with joy, like a child saying “Yippee!! I learned something new!” And the more knowledge we acquire about God’s Word and practise the good behaviour mentioned in it, the stronger we become against Satan’s schemes. — Matthew 4:1-11, Psalm 91, Romans 12:2, Hebrews 4:12.
When we feel tired during the day or a bit down for any reason, we can pray to our Heavenly Father. We can read a passage from the Bible, or sing or listen to Christian songs. We can meet with our brothers and sisters in faith, discuss God’s Word, and study the Bible on our own or together. We’re a big family; we’re all in it together, and we all want to practise love and kindness, be good children of our Heavenly Father, and be loyal followers of our King, Jesus Christ. It’s a way of life, and the more we live it, the more joy and blessings it will bring!
“This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only True God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.” — John 17:3.
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